The Air Part of NATO’s Joint Exercise Trident Juncture 2015

NATO’s Trident Juncture 2015 (TJ15) will take place in Italy, Portugal and Spain, this fall. The event is a flagship activity for NATO’s Connected Forces Initiative (CFI) and the largest exercise conducted by the Alliance since 2002. It will have two parts – a Command Post Exercise (CPX) from 3-16 October and a Live Exercise (LIVEX) from 21 October to 6 November.

As in every exercise and operation, Allied air forces are involved in both parts. A Joint Force Air Component at Poggio Renatico, Italy, will command and control operational air assets in a fictitious scenario. It will execute this mission in support of Joint Force Command Brunssum as they command and control joint forces and demonstrate the capabilities of the NATO Response Force (NRF) in planning, preparing, deploying and sustaining forces during non-Article V operations.

During the LIVEX, air forces will be conducting tactical level training. More than 140 aircraft from Allies and Partners involved are including Eurofighter/Typhoon, Tornado, F-16, F-18, L-159, Mirage 2000, JAS-39 Gripen, MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft, C-130, C-160, and Casa C-295 transport aircraft, various air-to-air refuelling aircraft, four early warning and control aircraft and of course several helicopters. The air assets will be based at Zaragoza, Albacete, Palma de Mallorca and several other locations in Spain. In Italy they will deploy to Trapani, Pisa, Decimomannu and several other locations in Italy, while in Portugal there will be at Beja and to a limited extent Monte Real.

After familiarization flying on 21 October, participating air assets will conduct air-to-air training, Dissimilar Air Combat Training, and they will also fly large multinational multi-type formations Composite Air Operations. Allied Warning and Control System aircraft from France, the United Kingdom, and NATO will be deployed to control operations and air-to-air refuelling of fighter and transport aircraft will take place. Redeployment of participating aircraft is scheduled for 3 November.

TJ15 LIVEX is a joint exercise. Air assets will be used in support of army, maritime and special operations forces, conducting Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Close Air Support and troop transport missions. Personnel Recovery and Search and Rescue missions are also scheduled.

TJ15 LIVEX underlines capabilities and interoperability among Allies and NATO Partners. Air provides highly professional technical enabling solutions for the NRF16 and shows enhanced readiness and flexibility.